Table of Contents

1. What has the ARA done in the past to protect and improve the environment of the Annex?
2. Is the Annex Residents' Association only for home owners?
3. How does the ARA raise its money and how is it spent?
4. What is Annexus?

What has the ARA done in the past to protect and improve the environment of the Annex?

In the late 60s and early 70s the ARA was instrumental in the defeat of the infamous Spadina Expressway.  More recently, when the flower beds in the Annex parks were discontinued due to City Parks budget cuts, the Annex Residents' Association members designed and planted the rose gardens in Sibelius Park and members contributed funds to install the low wrought iron fence hoops around the beds.  The ARA, under the loving and capable eye of Board Member Paul Martel, has completely redesigned and rebuilt Ecology Park.  The ARA fought at the Ontario Municipal Board to maintain the integrity of Taddle Creek Park when the owners of 50 Prince Arthur applied to build 9 townhouses in the north part of their property.  Smaller parks on the subway lands were promoted by the ARA.  The ARA hosts a rotating schedule of maintenance days at each of our local parks.  One-way streets and traffic calming humps were proposed by the ARA in an effort to discourage the use of our streets as short cuts to somewhere else.

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Is the Annex Residents' Association only for home owners?

NO!  There are many tenants who make their home in the Annex and we encourage all residents of the Annex, homeowners and tenants alike, to become members of The Annex Residents' Association. We all have a vested interest in maintaining the Annex as a vibrant and healthy place to live.  In the late 1970's the name of the organization was changed from "The Annex Ratepayers' Association" to "The Annex Residents' Association" to more fully reflect the makeup of both the neighbourhood and the Association.

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How does the ARA raise its money and how is it spent?

The membership fees go to pay our ongoing expenses, such as rental expenses for meetings, office expenses, the printing costs of the Voice of the Annex, the cost of maintaining the Annex Hotline, e-mail and website.  The money raised at the annual Annex Fall Fair goes into the treasury for special costs such as plantings in Annex parks, contributions to Annexus and other projects in the area.  We also need funds to finance legal fees when we go to the  Ontario Municipal Board.  The money raised at special functions such as the Home and Garden Tour go to a special project within the Annex, such as a new computer for after school projects at the Spadina Library.

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What is Annexus?

In response to the number of panhandlers on Bloor Street, the "White Box" program was started in the early 90s.  Businesses along the street displayed White Boxes provided by the ARA on their counters with the slogan "Make your small change make a real change".  The money from these boxes was distributed to agencies serving the homeless in our community.  After an extensive investigation into the problems of homelessness  in the Annex, Annexus was formed by the ARA in 1999.  The mandate of Annexus is to try to respond to specific needs of homeless and marginally housed individuals in the Annex.

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